You know what it’s like when the batteries are running low on the TV remote? It is awkward – pointing at the TV and pressing buttons in the hope that the channel will change or the volume will increase.

We all charge our phones. We have chargers in the car, next to the bed, in the kitchen and even if you are like me a power bank in my handbag for emergencies.

There are great lessons to be learnt from the digital world. My son is a gamer and game developer. I have often watched him play and noticed that players get ‘health’ which slowly ebbs away especially if you get injured. You have to complete a task or buy new health. Thank goodness we have the option of ‘plugging ourselves in’.

What about our own batteries?

I think we are battery powered. Perhaps not in the same way as a phone or TV remote, but more like the quintessential Duracell bunny who can go and go and go, but will eventually run out of power and stagger to a halt.

My own personal situation and the health issues I deal with on a daily basis often make me feel like the bunny that got the dud batteries. I find myself flat. Not only down but flat like a battery operated toy that is mumbling and muttering, staggering around. I am no longer the singing dancing bear (or bunny).

Every one of us is unique and our situations are too. Some people struggle with mental health, and others with physical health. Even the seemingly healthy people, are using their batteries every day – running around doing lifts for kids, working in a high stress environment, studying for exams.

Every little thing we do in life is sucking our battery power.

If we don’t plug in and recharge we will come to a grinding halt.

We all have different battery lives

Because we are all unique, we have different battery lives too. Mine doesn’t seem to have a very long life, and sometimes I need to be plugged in and recharging 3 or 4 times a day. Other people might be ok with an overnight charge.

The truth is that we all need to charge. And we need to be cognizant of the fact that if we don’t plug in and recharge we could be in from some serious health challenges.

It was only when things were really bad that I became consciously aware of the need to recharge. I think this conscious awareness is what has really made a difference, and I would urge everyone reading this to stop, and if it doesn’t seem too silly think about when you need to be plugged in and juicing up your battery.

Recharging is actually quite easy. There are a number of activities which will make a difference, but to varying degrees, and of course unique to each person.

Rest

Sleep

Eating healthy

Drinking enough fluid

Meditating

Journaling

Exercise

Creativity and flow

Setting boundaries

It is all very well to simply list these items and promise yourself that you will remember to plug-in. Life gets in the way, constantly veering us off course and then we look down at our battery life and oops – we are on emergency power.

How I recharge

Recharging needs to become a habit. Something that you do automatically. When I go to bed I leave my phone plugged in downstairs. When I get into the car, I plug it into the car charger.

Similarly I have a routine that after having breakfast, I have my second breakfast (medication and supplements), and then I sit with a cup of tea and write my journal. This sets me up for the day. Quite often I get up from my cup of tea with my mind buzzing and a list at my side ready to grab hold of the day fully charged.

It is really about finding what works for you. I jump on my mini-trampoline for at least 10 minutes a day. I have made this part of my routine too, and find it is really energizing me – yet another way of charging my battery.

As my own personal battery isn’t all that long-lasting, I have to constantly remind myself to plug-in. I use the list above to remind myself of different ways I can recharge. The luxury and necessity of rest is a priority as is setting boundaries.